482 Transactions 4 — Geology. 



year was sure to bring several others across the Lindis Pass, one or other 

 of which was certain to reach as far east as the Ben Ohoii Kauge, to the 

 west of Lake Pukald, where the changing character of the river deposits 

 generally arrested them. It will thus he seen that, in the face of continued 

 non-success, prospecting was most persistently indulged in by numerous 

 independent parties, none of which, although circumstances may have 

 prevented their retiuii, ever left without intending to return. 



The mere fact that there is much made ground (consisting of glacier 

 moraines, lake and river terraces) in the district, that the river beds 

 abound with quartz, or that gold in small quantities has been found, do 

 not fully account for the universal belief that paying deposits of alluvial 

 gold will be found. And, but for the existence amongst miners of a theory 

 upon this subject, prospecting would probably have been discontinued in 

 a few years after the opening of the West Coast Goldfields. 



The theory alluded to is, that as the Mackenzie Country lies to the west 

 of a line drawn from the central part of the Otago Goldfields to Hokitika 

 or Greymouth, the Mackenzie Country being to the west of this line, and 

 therefore lying directly between the Otago and Westland Goldfields, must 

 (the indications being favourable) be auriferous also ; and this belief alone 

 kept many in the field who would otherwise have left before they did. 



The above facts alone considered, the probable truth of the theory must 

 be conceded, apart from the actual occurrence of gold in the district. But 

 if a map showing the geological structure of the district be examined, the 

 error to which the theory leads Will be at once apparent, although there are 

 important facts connected with this subject, the details of which do not 

 appear on any geological map which I have seen. 



The boundary between the auriferous schists of Otago and Westland 

 does, indeed, follow the water-shed of the Waitaki Valley, as shown by Dr. 

 Hector in his Geological Map of New Zealand, 1873 ; and, in a general 

 sense, no auriferous rocks have been shown to exist east of the main water- 

 shed in the provincial district of Canterbury, the non-auriferous character 

 of the rocks at once accounting for the general scarcity of gold in the 

 alluviums of the district. But from the plan and section which I show, it 

 will be seen how much auriferous material may be brought down the rivers 

 with but an insignificant exposure at the surface of the rocks whence the 

 said materials are derived. 



The summit of Mount Cook and its eastern slopes consist of slates and 

 sandstones which have not yet been proved auriferous, while to a consider- 

 able altitude on its western slopes auriferous rocks are found. This same 

 arrangement with some modification extends throughout the first forty 

 miles of the southern continuation of the main range, the non-auriferous 



